Hepsi D. Zsoldos, 49, of Newark, DE, passed away January 2, 2013 at Christiana Hospital after a courageous 25 year battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Born in Lexington, KY, on June 14, 1963, Hepsi was the daughter of Silvia Tammisto Zsoldos and the late Laszlo Zsoldos. She earned her Bachelor’s Degrees at the University of Delaware, majoring in Geology and Geography with a minor in Music, and received her Master’s Degree in Marine Science from the University of South Florida. Hepsi taught in the Brandywine School District, and was known as a dynamic and creative educator and mentor to her students, fellow teachers and fellow dog enthusiasts. She was the first Delaware recipient of the prestigious Toyota Tapestry Grant; the funds being used to enrich her students’ understanding of marine environments. She was also the shipboard educator for a Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute research cruise and not only taught her students but also taught 40,000 students world-wide about the wonders of the sea. In keeping with her co-workers’ title of “Most Likely to Do Anything to Get a Kid to Learn,” she taught from 1 ½ miles beneath the sea. Later, she again served as shipboard educator for an international research cruise on the Black Sea in partnership with the Brandywine School District and its sister school district in Istanbul, Turkey. She earned numerous awards, and was the first recipient of the Governor’s Marine Science Teacher of the Year

Hepsi loved her four legged children and was deeply involved with Paws for People and agility training which she did in spite of her RA. Although some lovingly called her stubborn, Hepsi said what she had what the Finnish called “sisu”, meaning fortitude and courage against overwhelming odds.

In addition to her mother, Hepsi is survived by her husband, Guy R. Sheffler of Newark, her brother Peter Zsoldos and his wife Sharon of Clayton, NC and her sister Carolyn Zsoldos and her husband Ron Smith of Wilmington; a niece Lauren, and a nephew Alexander, and his wife, Shelley, all of Clayton; as well as her beloved four legged children, Mousse, Josie and Shadow.

A service honoring her life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 292 West Main St., Newark, DE 19711 on Saturday January 12, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the National Foundation for Transplants, Paws for People, or the Academy of Dog Training c/o R.T. Ford & Jones Funeral Home, 122 West Main St., Newark, DE 19711.